Selectively Positionable Hands Free Clipping Device

ABSTRACT

A selectively positionable hands free clipping device for use in cutting and styling of hair includes a coupler, which can selectively engage an element of a chair, such as an armrest or seatback. An arm is engaged to and extends from the coupler. The arm is flexible and thus can be bent into a plurality of shapes. A hair clip engaged to the arm distal from the coupler can selectively engage a lock of hair. The arm can be bent into a respective shape to selectively position the hair clip relative to the chair. The clip can be used to hold the lock of hair, allowing it to be cut precisely, colored, frosted, and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to clipping devices and more particularly pertains to a new clipping device for use in cutting and styling of hair.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to clipping devices, which may comprise adjustable arms having fasteners engaged thereto, wherein the fasteners are designed to engage baby bottles, flashlights, saltshakers, and the like. The prior art also may comprise articulating arms affixed to hair dryers. What is lacking in the prior art is an adjustable arm having a hail clip affixed thereto, wherein the arm is mountable to a chair.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a coupler, which is configured to selectively engage an element of a chair, such as an armrest or seatback. An arm is engaged to and extends from the coupler. The arm is flexible and thus configured to be bent into a plurality of shapes. A hair clip is engaged to the arm distal from the coupler and is configured to selectively engage a lock of hair. The arm is configured to be bent into a respective shape to selectively position the hair clip relative to the chair. The clip can be used to hold the lock of hair, allowing it to be cut precisely, colored, frosted, and the like.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a selectively positionable hands free clipping device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new clipping device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the selectively positionable hands free clipping device 10 generally comprises a coupler 12, which is configured to selectively engage an element 14 of a chair 16, such as a seatback, as shown in FIG. 4, or an armrest. The coupler 12 comprises a pair of frames 18 and a center spring 20. Each frame 18 has a first side 22, with the first sides 22 being hingedly engaged. The center spring 20 is engaged to the first side 22 of each frame 18 so that the pair of frames 18 is biased to a closed configuration. Second sides 24 of the frames 18 are configured to be separated, concurrent with tensioning of the center spring 20, positioning the pair of frames 18 for insertion of the element 14 of the chair 16. The center spring 20 is configured to rebound to removably engage the coupler 12 to the element 14 of the chair 16.

The second side 24 of each frame 18 has a bend 26 centrally positioned therein. The bend 26 extends outwardly from the pair of frames 18. The bend 26 is configured for insertion of digits of a respective hand of a user, positioning the user to separate the frames 18. The bends 26 also allow a complementarily shaped element of the chair 16 to be inserted thereinto.

An arm 28 is engaged to and extends from the coupler 12. The arm 28 is flexible and thus configured to be bent into a plurality of shapes. A hair clip 30 is engaged to the arm 28 distal from the coupler 12 and is configured to selectively engage a lock of hair. The arm 28 is configured to be bent into a respective shape to selectively position the hair clip 30 relative to the chair 16. The hair clip 30 can be used to hold the lock of hair, allowing it to be cut precisely, colored, frosted, and the like.

The hair clip 30 comprises a first member 32, a second member 34, and a clip spring 36. The first member 32 is engaged to and extends from the arm 28. The second member 34 is hingedly engaged to the first member 32 proximate to the arm 28 defining a handle section 38 and grasping section 40 of the hair clip 30. The clip spring 36 is engaged to the first member 32 and the second member 34 so that the grasping section 40 is biased to a closed configuration. The handle section 38 of the hair clip 30 is configured to be squeezed between digits of a hand of the user to separate the grasping section 40, concurrent with tensioning of the clip spring 36. A lock of hair is insertable into grasping section 40. The user is positioned to release the handle section 38, whereupon the clip spring 36 is configured to rebound so that grasping section 40 clips to the lock of hair.

In use, the arm 28 is affixed to the chair 16 using the coupler 12. The arm 28 can be adjusted to position the hair clip 30 as needed to engage a lock of hair that a stylist will be manipulating. With the lock of hair being held in place by the hair clip 30, the stylist has two hands free to perform manipulations on the lock of hair.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A selectively positionable hands free clipping device comprising: a coupler configured for selectively engaging an element of a chair; an arm engaged to and extending from the coupler, the arm being flexible such that the arm is configured for bending into a plurality of shapes; and a hair clip engaged to the arm distal from the coupler and being configured for selectively engaging a lock of hair, wherein the arm is configured for bending into a respective shape for selectively positioning the hair clip relative to the chair.
 2. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a pair of frames and a center spring, each frame having a first side, the first sides being hingedly engaged, the center spring being engaged to the first side of each frame, such that the pair of frames is biased to a closed configuration, wherein second sides of the frames are configured for separating, concurrent with tensioning of the center spring, positioning the pair of frames for insertion of the element of the chair, whereupon the center spring is configured for rebounding for removably engaging the coupler to the element of the chair.
 3. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device of claim 2, wherein the second side of each frame has a bend centrally positioned therein, the bend extending outwardly from the pair of frames, wherein the bend is configured for insertion of digits of a respective hand of a user, positioning the user for separating the frames.
 4. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device of claim 1, wherein the hair clip comprises: a first member engaged to and extending from the arm; a second member hingedly engaged to the first member proximate to the arm defining a handle section and grasping section of the hair clip; and a clip spring engaged to the first member and the second member, such that the grasping section is biased to a closed configuration, wherein the handle section of the hair clip is configured for squeezing between digits of a hand of a user for separating the grasping section concurrent with tensioning of the clip spring, such that a lock of hair is insertable into the grasping section, positioning the user for releasing the handle section, wherein the clip spring is configured for rebounding such that the grasping section clips to the lock of hair.
 5. A selectively positionable hands free clipping device and chair combination comprising: a chair; a coupler engaged to an element of a chair; an arm engaged to and extending from the coupler, the arm being flexible such that the arm is configured for bending into a plurality of shapes; and a hair clip engaged to the arm distal from the coupler and being configured for selectively engaging a lock of hair, wherein the arm is configured for bending into a respective shape for selectively positioning the hair clip relative to the chair.
 6. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device and chair combination of claim 5, wherein the coupler comprises a pair of frames and a center spring, each frame having a first side, the first sides being hingedly engaged, the center spring being engaged to the first side of each frame, such that the pair of frames is biased to a closed configuration, such that second sides of the frames are positioned for separating, concurrent with tensioning of the center spring, positioning the pair of frames for insertion of the element of the chair, whereupon the center spring is positioned for rebounding for removably engaging the coupler to the element of the chair.
 7. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device and chair combination of claim 6, wherein the second side of each frame has a bend centrally positioned therein, the bend extending outwardly from the pair of frames, wherein the bend is configured for insertion of digits of a respective hand of a user, positioning the user for separating the frames.
 8. The selectively positionable hands free clipping device and chair combination of claim 5, wherein the hair clip comprises: a first member engaged to and extending from the arm; a second member hingedly engaged to the first member proximate to the arm defining a handle section and grasping section of the hair clip; and a clip spring engaged to the first member and the second member, such that the grasping section is biased to a closed configuration, wherein the handle section of the hair clip is configured for squeezing between digits of a hand of a user for separating the grasping section concurrent with tensioning of the clip spring, such that a lock of hair is insertable into the grasping section, positioning the user for releasing the handle section, wherein the clip spring is configured for rebounding such that the grasping section clips to the lock of hair.
 9. A selectively positionable hands free clipping device comprising: a coupler configured for selectively engaging an element of a chair, the coupler comprising a pair of frames and a center spring, each frame having a first side, the first sides being hingedly engaged, the center spring being engaged to the first side of each frame, such that the pair of frames is biased to a closed configuration, wherein second sides of the frames are configured for separating, concurrent with tensioning of the center spring, positioning the pair of frames for insertion of the element of the chair, whereupon the center spring is configured for rebounding for removably engaging the coupler to the element of the chair, the second side of each frame having a bend centrally positioned therein, the bend extending outwardly from the pair of frames, wherein the bend is configured for insertion of digits of a respective hand of a user, positioning the user for separating the frames; an arm engaged to and extending from the coupler, the arm being flexible such that the arm is configured for bending into a plurality of shapes; and a hair clip engaged to the arm distal from the coupler and being configured for selectively engaging a lock of hair, wherein the arm is configured for bending into a respective shape for selectively positioning the hair clip relative to the chair, the hair clip comprising: a first member engaged to and extending from the arm, a second member hingedly engaged to the first member proximate to the arm defining a handle section and grasping section of the hair clip, and a clip spring engaged to the first member and the second member, such that the grasping section is biased to a closed configuration, wherein the handle section of the hair clip is configured for squeezing between digits of a hand of the user for separating the grasping section concurrent with tensioning of the clip spring, such that a lock of hair is insertable into the grasping section, positioning the user for releasing the handle section, wherein the clip spring is configured for rebounding such that the grasping section clips to the lock of hair. 